meet the team

ABE BROWN, MBA

Abe Brown, MBA, CMCT, CPHSA is the Coach’s Coach, and is an Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, International Best-Selling Author, and High-Performance Leadership Coach.  He is the founder of Certified Flourishing Coaching™, the Flourishing Life Coaching Program™, the CEO of Wellness Innovate Corp, and the CEO of Momentum Coaching. 

Abe is known as the Coach’s Coach, and for being people-first.  He is most passionate about supporting people, relationships, entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profits to thrive.  Flourishing people produce flourishing relationships, businesses, and workplaces, along with high performance and profound positive impact.  Abe is also passionate about workplace mental health and changing the world by changing the workplace.  Along with the team at Wellness Innovate, Abe is the creator of Flourishing Workplaces™.  

Abe has started or led several businesses and non-profits into the tens of millions of dollars, and has worked in the entrepreneur space, the corporate space, and the non-profit space at Senior Executive levels.  As past President of one of the largest Life & Executive Coach Training and Certification organizations in the world for 13 years, Abe trained and certified thousands of Life Coaches and Executive Coaches in North America and around the world.  Abe is focused on coaching leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs towards high-performance, resilience, and over-the-top results in both life and business.  Abe has also been a professional speaker for over two decades, has spoken professionally in 4 continents and over 20 countries around the world, and has spoke to audiences of tens of thousands.

Now with the Global Coaching Certification Association™, along with Certified Flourishing Coaching™, Abe and the global team are pioneering the very first evidence-based coaching model that taps into the psychology of flourishing, but with a certified coaching practitioner lens.

Abe earned a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business, and a Master’s in Religious Education and Counselling. 

dr wayne hammond, phd

Dr. Hammond is a founding partner and CSO with Flourishing Life Technologies in Calgary, Alberta and holds an adjunct status with Ambrose University and the School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.  Wayne is a Senior Advisor to the Certified Flourishing Coaching Program™.

Over the past 30 years, Wayne has primarily worked with complex youth and their families and is considered a leading expert on the concept of resilience and positive psychology and its application to positive youth and adult development as well as enhancing strengths capacity building and well-being in the context of academic, organizational and community culture.  He has served in clinical supervisory capacities, worked in a comprehensive residential treatment centre and has provided clinical services in an inpatient/outpatient forensic setting as well as an adolescent comorbidity program based in a hospital setting.  

As part of his professional practice, Wayne has published several scientific articles, developed an innovative framework for evaluating resilience and human flourishing.  He has also been an active lecturer with regards to understanding the role of human flourishing and well-being and the implications for nurturing positive coping and mental health through a strength-based approach of preparing people and organizations to thrive.  His speciality is neuroscience and the evidence around resiliency.

Dr. Hammond is a Senior Advisor to Certified Flourishing Coaching™ and to the Global Coaching Certification Association.  As the Founding Partner and CSO of Flourishing Life, Dr. Hammond is partnering in our efforts to create strengths-based practice and coaching models for various certification that draw upon the Flourishing Life model of applied practice and the use of the Flourishing Life Questionnaire (FLQ).  Dr. Wayne is excited to facilitate the Certified Flourishing Coaching™ Program in Calgary, Alberta.

connie jakab

Connie Jakab has been working in resilience and flourishing for over 20 years.  Starting with youth at risk and gangs in East Vancouver, Connie has been researching how community creates resilience and mental wellness her entire career through a sociological lens.  She has owned and started three companies, along with a non-profit from scratch, growing her businesses to empower others to grow and expand their personal potential.  Her passion to see others reach their potential has allowed her to oversee regional and national high-performance teams.  She has been working to ignite Brave Communities and Collaborations in teams for over 20 years. 

She is the author of three books, the third one selling out within the first six months.  Connie has spoken on stages all over North America, impacting audiences with her passion and compassion.  Her engaging storytelling won Connie the opportunity to meet and share the stage with Tony Robbins.  Connie was recently given the award “Woman of Inspiration Top 150 in Canada” for her passion to see others flourish.

Connie is the Director of Community for the Certified Flourishing Coaching™ Program, and is excited to facilitate our training in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C.

cynthia chau-hoang

As the Director of Client of Experience for Certified Flourishing Coaching™, Cynthia is our support system when it comes to client care, operations and facilitation.   She also has over two decades of experience working with people and supporting in creating the most ideal results when it comes to complex situations, high performance, and conflict resolution.  

When working with individuals and teams, Cynthia has the gift of understanding and meeting people where they are at while moving through obstacles to obtain the main goals and objectives.  By creating a safe environment, teams and businesses have been able to grow and expand and reach potentials never imagined before under her guidance and support.

Cynthia is also excited to facilitate the Certified Flourishing Coaching™ Model.

our facilitators

brad brownell

Brad Brownell is a Certified Life, Relationships, and Leadership Coach. He is also a business development specialist, public speaker, trusted authority in inter-personal relationships, and experienced in public relations. He is the Director of Business Development of Wellness Innovate.

Brad values having an authentic and integral approach to empowering people, teams, and organizations so they can flourish and fulfill their mission. When people feel their value and are platformed to contribute it, productivity and profits will result. Brad knows firsthand the impact that a well-meaning but negative culture or workplace misalignment can have on mental and physical health.

Brad is highly sought out for his leadership, business development skills, and authentic care to empower others from all walks of life. Along with Brad’s experience, he has degrees in counselling and leadership. Having coached individuals, couples, and families from diverse perspectives, as well as facilitating occupational workplace coaching for the past 20 years, Brad speaks regularly to groups, couples, and individuals on issues regarding everyday personal and professional well-being.

stephanie semotok

Stephanie Semotok is a Certified Master Coach Practitioner, Supportive Counsellor, and Empowerment Specialist. Stephanie has over 16 years experience working in the non-profit social services sector as both a front line counsellor and leader.

Her passion and enthusiasm for valuing people first has led to significant success for employees throughout all aspects of their lives.

heather wyard-scott

Heather is a long time industry administrator and entrepreneur with a passion for creating fun work environments with increased psychological safety through personal engagement.

catherine toews

Catherine is a CPA, CGA who is a personal and leadership coach with over 25 years of corporate experience including senior management.  She understands the significance healthy workplace environments have on people. 

Her approach is heart-centred, authentic, and holistic in creating a flourishing workplace while achieving company objectives.